Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Okay I know this took me a while to post. Victory Day was May 9th. But I had to get the pics from Kathryn because I did the video (which I don't have with me right now). I will post the video soon. Here are some pics of the day but they are in reverse order.

The first is that evening when we went to Victory park to an outdoor concert.

Victory Day is to celebrate the victory over WWII. This is the first time in 17 years (since the fall fo the Soviet Union) that they brought out the Soviet war tanks. It was such a cool parade! Here is a communist rally that took place as soon as the parade was over.

This is how crowded the street was, this street leads to Red Square and is usually one of the busiest streets in the city.

Here is me and Kat after the parade. It was so cold that day. We didn't expect it b/c it was warm the day before. We figured we would be too warm in sweatshirts. Thankfully our friend Jason lived about a 2 minute walk fromt there and gave us an extra layer of fleece to wear.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

So I feel the need to testify at the many blessings in my life. I just feel like the Lord is working everywhere I look. Yea I know He is always working everywhere but sometimes it takes a while for my feeble mind to see it. I have spent some wonderful time on the phone recently with family and friends and I feel like the Lord is just answering all my prayers left and right. I am also seeing this happen in my friends lives all around me. It is really a beautiful thing to see and realize that my life would be in complete shambles if I was in control. I am so glad that I do not have to try to do it on my own. If that were the case, I would have been back home somewhere around 8 months ago and would have stayed. But praise the Lord He has a bigger plan and has His hand in everything single tiny thing in my life. Without this I know I would completely lost forever, literally.

Through this I am reminded of one of my favorite songs. This song is partly dear to me because of my precious friend Mel who gave me the CD years ago because this was her Dana song. It just reminds me that He can take me and all my quirks and faults and make my life completely beautiful.

Well, I've never been a fashion queenI wear dresses I wear jeansI've even been known to wear my heart on my sleeveI'm just your average kid next doorA plain simple mysteryI'm a self-proclaimed daddy's girlWith my share of idiosyncrasies

I'm just fineI see a smile from HeavenMy father's proudAnd I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfullyMade in youYou make it beautiful somehow

I've got old-fashioned sensibilitiesI believe chivalry still existsAnd I can be a princessEven when there ain't no princeSo what if I'm right brainedI've got half a mind to disagreeI would rather write the bookThan go and read the movieSo even when I may not rhymeYou always give me reason

I'm just fineI see a smile from HeavenMy father's proudAnd I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfullyMade in youYou make it beautiful somehow

Every day, every wayGot my elbows on the tableMy mind up in the cloudsI know I'm getting betterI can almost hear You laugh out loudThe more I trust in YouThe more I findWhat You create is no mistakeIt's purpose by design

I'm just fineI see a smile from HeavenMy father's proudAnd I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfullyMade in youYou make it beautiful somehow

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

When I moved to a city of 14 million people I didn't have the expectation of there being beautiful parks to visit. Well I have a favorite. It is called Tsaritsena park. Apparently my first time to visit it in Sept. was a big new opening for the park. It used to be in ruins but they restored to old castle. You can literally get lost in this park. Each time we go we spend 6-8 hours and we have still not seen the whole thing. So I went twice this last weekend during our days off of work and got some fun pics.

Moscow is beautiful in the Spring. I didn't expect this but there are tulips of all colors everywhere!! I love tulips so much! I have never lived anywhere where they survive. They plant the bulbs before the first big snow and then when it warms up you begin to see tulips everywhere! It is so delightful!

Also this pic and the video is of a cute little man. He is at our metro every day, no matter what the temperature or weather. He is there singing and playing his accordian. I don't know if he if homeless or a little crazy but I think he is precious and he is one of my favorite things in this city. I had never given him money before. But the day we went to the park there was not a lot of questionable people hanging around like usuall so I gave him some money and asked if I could take picture and video of him. I think he kind of felt like a star. His song is so funny. He is singing about singing to a beautiful girl in the pedyhold (underground pedestrian walk).

Monday, May 5, 2008

Here is my great birthday package. Sorry you don't get to see the real first one (it had the address that is to keep out the psychos!) (and for my mom so she feels I'm safe). I took a chain of pics for my family so they can see me open it. There is one of my calling my parents per mom's directions. You also get to see each and every piece of my package.

I think this is my favorite package so far. This is first of all because it was my birthday of course. And also because it was so thoughtful. Mom said they tried to pick out something that I could use but yet if it got lost in the mail would not be a huge deal. I think they did a pretty good job!

Oh and there were hallmark singing cards! The one from mom, dad, and bub sang Whoope There It Is and the one from my sis sang the Moulan Rouge Hey Sista song.